Greek Officers, members of the Delegation of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff (ΓΕΕΘΑ) of Greece, were welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, on Friday, 17 May 2024, at the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese in Sydney.
The Head of the Delegation, which is visiting Australia to take part in the celebrations for the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Crete, is the Deputy-Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Vice-Admiral Mr. Christos Sasiakos. The Deputy-Chief is accompanied by Captain Mr. Pavlos Angelopoulos, Staff officer of the Δ3 Directorate of International Relations of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, Captain Mr. Stylianos Mitsiotis, Staff of the 1st Department of the Directorate of Public Relations of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, and Colonel Mr. Ioannis Fasianos, Military Attaché of Greece in Canberra.
Upon their arrival at the central facilities of the Holy Archdiocese, the officers of the Hellenic Armed Forces were warmly welcomed at the entrance by His Grace Bishop Christodoulos of Magnesia and the Chancellor, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Christophoros Krikelis. This was followed by a tour of the Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady and then they made their way to the Archbishop’s Office, where they had a heart-to-heart conversation with His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr. Yannis Mallikourtis.
The Archbishop thanked the officers of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and, through them, the political leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and the Government of Greece, for their constant interest in the Greeks of Australia. His Eminence also conveyed to them the respect of expatriates towards the Greek Armed Forces, on the one hand because they guarantee the safety of the homeland, and on the other hand because they carry out important social work in times of peace.
Also, His Eminence provided information to the members of the Delegation regarding the work and activities of the Holy Archdiocese, making special mention of this year’s anniversary, during which the Orthodox Church in Australia celebrates the centenary of its foundation and awaits the Apostolic Visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, this October.
The meeting ended with mutual wishes and with the offering of souvenir gifts, from Archbishop Makarios to the executives of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
